Web Page No 2650

7^th January 2020

1st Picture. Nitty Norah the bug explorer

2nd Picture. Ginger Beer plant

3rd Picture. Floor scrubbing

4th Picture. Mickey Mouse watch

Welcome to 2020

Well we have made it into another decade. This is the first repeat year since 1919 and we did not see that one and the next will be 2121and we will not reach that landmark. BUT I do remember the last upside-down year and you should too. That was 1961 which ever way you looked at it, it was still 1961.

Now some memory joggers.

Back in the day

Back in the days of tanners and bobs

When Mothers had patience and Fathers had jobs.                               When football team families wore hand me down shoes,   
And TV  had only two channels to choose.

Back in the days of three penny bits,

When schools employed nurses to search for your nits.

When snowballs were harmless; and slides were permitted  and all of your jumpers were warm and hand knitted.

Back in the days of the thrupenny bit

With PT at school we certainly kept fit

We had frost inside the window and oil in the stoves

And most of our aunties were knitting us gloves.

Back in the days of thick stews and meat

We had to be polite to those that meet

When on her knees Mum scrubbed the floor

And the friendly postman delivered to our door

.

Back in the days of hot ginger beers,

When children remained so for more than six years. When children respected what older folks said,

And pot was something you kept under the bed

Back in the days of Listen with Mother.

When neighbours were friendly and talked to each other. When cars were so rare you could play in the streets.

When Doctors made house calls and Police walked the beat.

Back in the days of Milligans Goons

When butter was butter and songs all had tunes.        It was dumplings for dinner and trifle for tea,       and your annual break was a day by the sea.

Back in the days of Dixon's Dock Green,      Crackerjack pens and Lyons Maid ice cream.

When children could freely wear National Health glasses,       and teachers all stood at the FRONT of their classes.

Back in the days of rocking and reeling,

When mobiles were things that you hung from the ceiling.       When art and pottery got taught to us in schools,

And everyone dreamt of winning the Pools

Back in the days when we played the day through

From Portscreek to the hillside and then to the zoo

We had no Timex or Ingersol to wear

We told the time by the sun as it hung in the air

At school on cold days I took biscuits for break

The heating was poor so we all stayed awake

Whilst work was all messy and full of odd blobs

Back in the days of tanners and bobs.

Yes back in the days when I was a lad,

I can't help but smile for the fun that I had.

Hopscotch and roller skates; snowballs to lob.        Back in the days of tanners and bobs.

Stay in touch

Peter

You Write:

News and Views:

On 07/01/1960 the number one single was Starry Eyed - Michael Holliday and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was not listed but the box office smash was North by Northwest. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Burnley were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.The big news story of the day was New French franc introduced.

On 07/01/1961 the number one single was I Love You - Cliff Richard & the Shadows and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was The Russ Conway Show (ATV) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.The big news story of the day was Decimal coinage introduced in Pakistan.

On 07/01/1962 the number one single was Moon River - Danny Williams and the number one album was Another Black & White Minstrell Show - George Mitchell Minstrels. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 07/01/1963 the number one single was Return to Sender - Elvis Presley and the number one album was Black & White Minstrel Show - George Mitchell Minstrels. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 07/01/1964 the number one single was I Want to Hold Your hand - The Beatles and the number one album was With the Beatles - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

 On 07/01/1965 the number one single was I Feel Fine - The Beatles and the number one album was Beatles For Sale - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.